Sheryl Kuznar and Patrick Johnson danced in Dancing With the Local Stars in downtown Muskegon on Thursday, February 23, 2012. The dance couple won "The People's Choice" award for collecting the most money.
Erin Stubblefield | Mlive

The jury’s still out on whether Muskegon Mayor Steve Warmington can waltz, but once thing’s certain – he sure can jive.

The mayor shimmied in leather chaps and a red bandanna, joining 11 other local notables on the dance floor Thursday night for “Dancing with the Local Stars,” a contest hosted by the Women’s Division of the Chamber of Commerce.

After weeks of rehearsal, they performed in front of a packed house at the ballroom of the Holiday Inn Muskegon Harbor, located on 939 Third St.

Some dancers said they had never expected to participate.

Brenda Sprader and Todd Hunt ended the show with their perfomance in Dancing With the Local Stars in downtown Muskegon on Thursday, February 23, 2012.
Erin Stubblefield | Mlive

"A year ago, I was in this crowd for the first time and I looked at guy sitting next to me...and I said, ‘There’s no way you will ever get me up there,’” said Todd Hunt, who owns and operates Hunt Orthodontics.

Others just dusted off their dancing shoes.

Monica Lakatos, a dentist at Northshore Dental Associates said it had been thirty years since she last danced. But she said she accepted the offer to perform because “it’s for a good cause and it’s a lot of fun.”

And some showed off their secret talents. Alvaro Rodriguez, a chef at Pints and Quarts Pub & Grill, wowed the audience with his B-Boy moves.

“He didn’t want to break dance, but I said, ‘You got to do that because that’s amazing and you got to show what you can do,’” said his partner, Mary Switzer, who owns THE GYM in North Muskegon.

But although the dancers said they enjoyed themselves, they didn’t forget why they were performing.

“You know, there are people who can’t do things like this,” said Switzer. “So while we’re entertaining ourselves, we are actually helping people put food on their tables.”

Three couples went home winners. The “Critic’s Choice” award, based on technical merit, was given to Jennifer Cross, the owner of Continuity Retail Shop, and her instructor, Dave Kennedy, for their sexy cha-cha to “On the Floor” by Jennifer Lopez.

Sheryl Kuznar, an account manager at RDR Properties Inc., and her instructor, Patrick Johnson took home the “People’s Choice” award, which was determined by their ability to collect the most donations from the audience that night.

According to the Women’s Division tally, all the contestants collected $13, 895.36 that night.

The last award, “Best of Show,” was also decided by audience, but through ballots found at their tables. That trophy went to Stacey Shepherd, 2001’s Miss Michigan and her instructor, Corey Christoffersen.

The “Best of Show” winners also performed an encore of their high-energy, country and freestyle dance to a “Footloose” cover by Blake Shelton.

“Dancing with the Local Stars” has three more sold-out shows this weekend: a Friday and Saturday night show and a Saturday matinee.

Last year, the event raised $58,700 for local food pantries. So far, the Women’s Division has raised over $38,000 in sponsorships alone, said president Karen Mogdics. She said the final tally wouldn’t be available until the next week or so.